Private sector in the city state Hong Kong remained almost unchanged in the month of March following a series of gains in the five previous months, as orders and output both fell, a report published by the Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The Hong Kong's purchasing managers' index dropped from a level of 53.3 in February to 49.9 in the
Merchandise trade balance in Australia came in a surplus in February, however on a sequential basis the surplus shrank by 14%, a report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded A$1.20 billion in February, while it was forecast to record only A$850 million on the month.
Australia's retail sales advanced in February rising by less than economists originally expected and the gain was at a slower rate than in the month before, the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed in a report on Thursday. According to the report, the country's total retail sales volume jumped by 0.2% totaling A$22.972 billion, while in January it grew by 1.2%.
Gold prolongs its gain from the lowest level in seven weeks on speculation that metal's physical demand will increase. The yellow metal for immediate delivery added 0.3% to $1,293.36 an ounce at 2:26 p.m. Singapore time, after rising 0.9% on Wednesday. Gold for June delivery climbed 0.2% to $1,293.30 an ounce in New York, after snapping a five-day decline.
The Chinese service sector advanced in March rising at a faster rate than in the month before and reaching the highest level in four months, a report unveiled by the HSBC and Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The China's purchasing managers' index for services rose from a level of 51.0 recorded in February to 51.9 points in March.
Private sector job growth in the U.S. increased significantly last month and the labour market also showed an increase in new jobs created, a report published by the payroll processor ADP unveiled on Wednesday. According to the report, the world's largest economy added 191,000 new jobs in March after rising by 178,000 in the month before.
Manufacturing new orders in the world's largest economy rebounded surprisingly in February following a series of drops in the previous months, a report released by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. new orders in a factory sector gained 1.6% in February after slipping by 1.0% and 2.0% in January and December respectively.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to maintain its current monetary policy and the level of quantitative easing unchanged until the second half of 2015 and it should keep the level of borrowing costs below normal levels into 2017, John William from the San Francisco Federal Reserve said on Thursday. The Fed's official also said that the rates should maintain
The majority of Asian stocks increased on Thursday session with the gauge measuring performance of the equities traded near the highest level in almost a month as risk appetite of investors boosted after U.S. data showed an improvement in local economy. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.1% and the Nikkei 225 benchmark index jumped 1.2%.
The New Zealand's currency notably declined on Thursday trading session following a week of gains and as it traded close to the highest level in two-and-a-half year as, the drop was caused by profit taking on Wednesday. The so-called Kiwi slipped from $0.8702 recorded on Wednesday session to $0.8543 today as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is forecast to
The Japanese currency held steady on Thursday trading session, however it was traded near its lowest level in four weeks against the Euro and it reached a fresh 10-week low versus the U.S. Dollar before today's policy meeting of the ECB. The Yen fell 0.1% to 103.97 per U.S. Dollar after it slipped to 104.07, the least in ten weeks,
The Aussie and Kiwi are expected to fall against the U.S. Dollar and to lose this year's gains as U.S. is poised for a recovery. The Australian and New Zealand Dollars have been among the three best performing major currencies against the greenback over the previous month and this year in a whole. The Kiwi gained to 83.02 U.S. cents
The Wall Street equities closed higher on Wednesday trading session with the benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 reaching the highest level all-time on signs that the country's economy is building its momentum as series of recent reports showed. The S&P 500 Index added 0.29% to 1,890. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 0.24% to 16,573 and the Nasdaq
The U.S. Dollar gained to the highest level in two months versus the Japanese Yen ahead of U.S. service industry data and nonfarm payrolls that are expected to grow. The greenback traded at 103.87 Japanese Yen at 7 a.m. London time, after reaching 104.07, the strongest level since January 23, while it was at $1.3759 per Euro, after Wednesday's 0.2%
The European currency opened lower earlier on Thursday trading session as traders awaited a result from the European Central Bank policy meeting taking place today and expected to bring no change in monetary policy of the bank. The Euro slipped as much as 0.1% to $1.3758 following an advanced to the highest in a week at $1.3820 in the session
German shares gained for a second straight day, after they retreated previous month, as the U.S. employment data are awaited by investors. The DAX Index climbed 0.4% to 9,639.95 as of 10:15 Frankfurt time; however, the equity-benchmark slid 1.4% in March on turmoil between Russia and Ukraine. The HDAX Index rose 0.3% today.
U.K. shares were little changed, after the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index touched the highest level in three weeks on Tuesday, as U.S. employment reports were awaited by investors. The FTSE 100 added less than 0.1% to 6,658.59 as of 9:18 a.m. London time. The FTSE All-Share Index increased less than 0.1% as well, while Ireland's ISEQ Index climbed 0.5%.
Majority of European shares gained as a private U.S. unemployment report is coming out today and that might indicate how far the U.S. with its economy is. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.1% to 336.73 as of 8:14 a.m. London time and it has advanced 3.8% since March 24. However, Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures rose 0.1%, while
Gold halted its declines for two straight days, after the prices reached the lowest level in seven weeks, encouraging investors to buy the bullion on signs of increasing physical demand in China. Gold for immediate delivery gained 0.4% to $1,284.58 an ounce and was at 1,284.23 as of 2:48 p.m. Singapore time. Bullion for June delivery advanced 0.4% to $1,284.50
The U.S. Dollar gained to the strongest level in approximately two months versus the Japanese Yen ahead of a private report on U.S. jobs growth that will be released today. The greenback added 0.1% 103.76 Yen at 6:50 a.m. London time, after approaching 103.94, the strongest level since January 23. The U.S. currency advanced 0.5% to 85.96 cents per Kiwi,
The American manufacturing sector continued to expand, as production and orders grew, reaching a tenth consecutive gain, while still missing the economists' expectations of 54. The Institute for Supply Management's index advanced to 53.7 in March, thus increasing by 0.5 points from the previous month.
U.S. stocks surged after Tempe, Arizona-based group, reported an increase in the manufacturing data, thus letting Standard & Poor's 500 Index reach the longest winning streak since 2007. The S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.4%. The S&P 500 added 1.3% in the first quarter, thus staging a fifth consecutive gain.
The Japanese shares were mixed as the Topix index advanced, while the Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0.2%. The Topix Index climbed 0.1%, thus extending its winning streak to a seventh day, while still being in red as a result of the 7.6% decline last quarter.
The Pound halted its six-day winning streak against the greenback after U.K. reported slower-than-expected growth in manufacturing. The Cable dropped 0.1% from its two-week high, after it advanced 1.1% during the last five days. The Sterling also experienced a slide of 0.3% versus the shared currency.